Entrepreneurship skills for young adults in Belgium

Belgium has around 273,000 young people who are not in education, employment or training.

Fifty-eight percent¹ of pupils in part-time vocational secondary education leave early, without a degree. When they apply for jobs, they’re often told they don’t have the right qualifications or attitude, or they suffer racial discrimination. 

YouthStart Belgium supports young people where school and home have failed to bring them crucial self-belief. It offers eight-day entrepreneurship programs for people aged between 16 and 30 years, during which they discover their talents, refresh their digital skills, learn how to present themselves, develop their own projects and think about the future they want.

The Goodman Foundation’s funding over three years will support training for up to 45  participants. YouthStart’s work is effective, with a 2021 study showing that after participants exited the program, more than 61% found a job that suited them, 11% returned to study and 5% started their own business.

^{1 Your nudge in the right direction: Their future. YouthStart, 2023.}